Air break switch



-May 3, 1932.

AIR BREAK SWITCH Filed Feb. 19, 1929 A TTORNEY Patented May 3, 1932 UNIT-ED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR O. AUSTIN, OF NEAR BARBERTON,

OHIO, ASBIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO THE OHIO BRASS COMPANY, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORATION 01 NEW JERSEY Application filed-February This invention relates to disconnecting switches for conductor lines in which the C11- cuits are broken in the air.

The invention has for one of its ob ects the provision of a switch which shall minimize the tendency to are when the switch s opened and which shall quickly break the circuit.

A further object is to provide means for preventing arcing between the different phases of a polyphase circuit when the switch is opened.

A further object is to provide a switch of improved construction and operation.

Other objects and advantages Wlll appear from the following description.

The invention is exemplified in the comb nation and arrangement of parts shown 1n the accompanying drawings and descrlbed in the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a disconnecting switch embodying one form of the present invention. 7

Fig. 2 is a vertical section substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In high voltage transmission lines, air break disconnectlng switches are used for sectionalizing many circuits and are frequently used for opening the line under load or under charging current. Air break switches are limited for the latter work as an are from one phase may cause a phase to phase short circuit, even though the particular phase may be opened satisfactorily. With my improved switch, the circuit can be opened under much more severe conditions than was heretofore possible.

In the form of disconnecting switch shown in the drawings, switch arms 10 are mounted on insulators 11 which are rotated upon their axes by means'of crank arms 12 operated through a rod 13. The rod 13 is operated by hand or by any suitable switch opening mechanism commonly used for this purpose. The arms 10 carry contact blades 14 arranged to engage contacts 15 mounted on insulators 16 and connected with conductors 17 forming the polyphase line controlled by the switch.

AIR BREAK SWITCH 19, 1929. Serial 170. 841,180.

Horns 18 and 19 of usualconstruction are connected with the contacts 14 and 15 respectively to prevent arcing between the contacts.

When the current carrying blades 14 leave the members 15, contact is established through the horns 18 and 19 which are spring members. An arc is formed between the members 18 and 19 and owing to the heat of the are it tends to rise. A slight wind, however, may cause the heated gases of the arcs to blow over and produce a short circuit between phases. In order to prevent this, bafiles 20 and 21 may be provided. These baifies are insulated from ground and may be of metal since they are insulated from ground and well separated. Being well separated, a free passage is provided for a current of air to ass between the arcs on adjacent phases. ince the baffles 20 and 21 are insulated from ground, there will be no tendency for arcs to be maintained tothese memionized gases and cause the breaking o arcs.

The baflies may be of any suitable height, depending upon conditions and may be of any number. In general, however, it is necessary that the bafiles be separated by an intervening air space so that contact will not be made through the bafiie itself. In order to prevent arcs forming between the incoming terminals 17. cross baflies 22, 23, and 24 may be used. These will tend to keep separate the individual arcs formed at the two terminals when the switch is opened. The columns of air between the different bafiies will tend to prevent the hot gases formed by the different arcs from coming together, creating a path which will shunt the switch. In order that the gases may not travel from one pole to the other, some of the bafiies may be broken or made up in two parts as is shown in baflles 25 and 26. Bafile 25 has a projection 27 for further deflecting the arc.

Switches of this kind are particularly efficient when the mechanism is such that they may be opened quickly. The operation may be further facilitated by fans 28 or other deflect rising suitable means which will insure a rapid circulation of the air. Any suitable fan may be placed below the switch elements or passages between baflies. In the operation of the switch, these fans may be started up in advance so as to insure a strong current of air.

I claim:

1. The combination with a olyphase circuit ofswitch members for the ifi'erent phase conductors of said circuit, and a pair of spaced baffles interposed between switch members of adjacent conductors.

2. The combination with a -pxolyphas e cir-- cuit of switch members for t phase conductors of'said circuit, and a pair of insulated upright metal bafiles spaced from each other and interposed between switch members of adjacent circuits.

3. The combination with a switch comprising spaced terminals and a blade for connectin said terminals, said blade being arrange to open the circuit at each of said terminals, of a transverse baffle interposed between said terminals for reventing unitin of the arcs formed at sai terminals when said switch is opened.

4. The combination with a switch comprising agaair of spaced terminals, of a blade pivote at a point between said terminals and arranged to makea separable connection with each of said terminals, and an upright baflle interposed between sald terminals.

5. The combination with a switch comprising a pair of spaced terminals, of a blade pivota ly mounted between .said terminals and arranged to make separable contact with each of said terminals, and a bafiie mounted on said blade and extending transversely of the axes thereof.

6. The combination with a switch comprisin a pair of horizontally spaced terminals, 0 an upright battle of conducting material disposed at one side of said terminals, the portions of said bafiie adjacent the difierent terminals being insulated from each other.

7. The combination with a switch terminal, of an upright bafile wall disposed at one side of said terminal, said Wall having a portion projecting at an angle to the plane thereof to gases.

8. The combination with a switch having a pair of spaced terminals, of separate upright bafiie walls disposed at the sides of said terminals respectively, each of said walls having transverse portions intermediate said terminals for-preventing mingling of heated gases risin from the respective terminals.

9. An electric switching apparatus comprising spaced terminals, means for breaking electric currents at both of said terminals and means for preventing arcs separately formed at said terminals from uniting, said means comprising a pair of baflies located between said terminals and spaced from each other and providing an air space for a current of air between said bullies and spaced away from each of said terminals.

10. Electric switching apparatus comprising separate switches or different circuits of a polyphase's stem, a-pair of spaced baffles inter 'osed etween adjacent switches, each of said switches comprising a pair of stationary terminals and a switch blade having movable contact with each of said stationary terminals and arranged to break the circuit ateach terminal when the switch is opened, a plhrality of bailies carried by each switch blade and arranged transversely thereof, and

means for directing currents of air upwardly across the arcing paths formed when said switches'are opened.

11. An electric switch com rising spaced contact members and a pair oi spaced baflles interposed in the arcing path between said contact members, said bafiies being formed of metal and insulated from each other and from said contact members.

' In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification this 18th day of February A. D. 1929.

ARTHUR O. AUSTIN. 

